A Back-To-School-Lunch Surprise:

This is for all the moms, who are like me, who have to make that first–day-of-school lunch special. I enjoyed tucking in little "I Love You!" or "Have a nice day!" notes or some sort of treat in my children's lunch bags when they were little. Here’s an adorable PBJ sandwich that was cut out from an apple cookie cutter!  Too cute!  The template for the sweet bag can be found at Family Fun!  Click on the link.

Kelli’s Cherry Smash

My daughter brought this to our family potluck and it was a “smash” hit.

Kelli doesn’t claim to be a cook, so when something turns out it’s a big deal!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups boiling water
• 1 ¼ cups DIET 7 Up
• 1 can cherry pie filling
• 2 small boxes of SUGAR –FREE cherry Jell-O

Optional:

• Cool Whip
• Maraschino cherries

Directions:

1. Follow the normal directions on the Jell-O box with the above ingredients.
2. Add the 7-Up to the dissolved Jell-O
3. Then add the pie filling.
4. Blend and pour into a greased 8x8 glass dish.
5. Chill in fridge ‘til set.
6. Cut into squares
7. Yummy dessert for summer.
8. Can add a dollop of cool whip and a maraschino cherry to the top if you want a bit of pizzazz.

Back-To-School

First-Day Friendship Fruit Salad

Make this for the first day or during the first week of school when you are teaching your students about rules, manners, sharing etc.

Ingredients:

• Fresh fruit: My personal favorites:

• Apples
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Cantaloupe
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Watermelon
• Honey Dew Melon
  
• Grapes (red &/or green)
  

• How much is determined by the size of your class and how much you want to give them.
• I cut everything up into small bite-size squares and make sure everyone has at least one of everything.  
• Children love fruit and this is a very healthy and refreshing snack for them.

• If this is not in your budget, have parents sign up at open house to bring an ingredient and explain what you'll be doing.  They'll love the idea.
• Click on the link to view/print some notes.  Friendship Fruit Salad
  

PLUS…

• Large bowl
• Large spoon
• Paper plates
• Plastic spoons
• And the star of the show: A very rotten apple.  I simply buy one 2 months before school starts and let it sit out. If yours is not getting rotten enough, leave it in a Baggie in the sun.

Directions:

Here’s a little scenario of how you can bring home good behavior by making this Friendship Fruit Salad:

• Explain to the children that the fruit symbolizes all of the students.
• The bowl symbolizes the classroom.
• Add some fresh chunks of fruit.
• These are the well-behaved children.
• They follow the rules.
• Does anyone remember our rules?
• Call on children ‘til you have reviewed all of them.
• Toss in another kind of fruit.
• These are the children who share.
• Who knows how to share? Raise your hand if you are kind and are good at sharing.
• That’s wonderful.
• Toss in another kind of fruit.
• These are the children who say nice things and cooperate.
• Who does that?
• Toss in another kind of fruit.
• These are the children who have a positive attitude and try their best.
• Who’s going to do that?
• Sprinkle on the blueberries.
• This is the happiness we feel when everyone is nice, and obeys the rules so we can have fun, and play and learn.
• Now pick up the rotten apple.
• This is the student who does not obey the rules.
• This is the student who does not share.
• He doesn’t have any manners.
• She causes trouble and hurts others.
• Should we add it to our delicious salad?
• Why?
• Give students an opportunity to explain.
• Summarize:
• One rotten apple really can spoil the whole bunch.
• Should we throw this rotten apple away for good and promise not ever to be a rotten apple?
• Throw the apple away.
• Have children raise their left hand and put their right hand over their heart.
• “I promise not to have rotten apple behavior, because this class is filled with friendship and fun. Now it’s time for friendship fruit salad! Yum Yum!”